The Wiregrass Ranch boys tennis dynasty is back on top.
The Bulls, who weren’t even among the top four seeded teams at the Class 3A state championships last week, proved themselves the best by knocking off defending champion Osceola 4-3 in the state final at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs.
And they did it thanks to their unmatched depth.
Despite losses by No. 1 Matthew Adanas (due to an untimely injury) and No. 2 Cade Costin, the Bulls picked up must-wins by Rishi Kala (No. 3), Aarav Shashikiran (No. 4) and Mikey Miller (No. 5), and a doubles win from Kala and Shashikiran, to return the Bulls to the tennis throne.
It was the fourth state title for the Bulls, who also won in 2014, 2015 and 2023.
Adanas’ retirement (he was down 5-0 at the time) put Wiregrass Ranch in an early hole, and Osceola’s Leon Linetski completed a 6-1, 6-3 win to make it 2-0.
But Kala, a four-star recruit who moved in from New Jersey in the offseason, dominated James Mellinger 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3, and Shashikiran pulled out a hard-fought 7-6, 6-3 win at line four.
Miller, the lone senior to play at state, then cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win to put the Bulls within one doubles win of the title. And Kala and Shashikiran made easy work of Chase Sullivan and Linetski 4-1, 4-0 for the title.
Coyotes final four
The Cypress Creek girls tennis team made its first trip to state, and beat Our Lady of Lourdes Academy 4-1 to advance to the final four. The Coyotes were dominant against Lady of Lourdes, with 6-0, 6-0 wins at Nos. 1 and 2 singles by Nicole Nguyen and Victoria Khokhryakova, and Nguyen teamed with Malak Aref and Khokhryakova paired up with Abigal Francisco for decisive doubles wins.
The Coyotes lost in the state semifinals to the eventual state champion, St. Augustine Nease.